Griffin, Clippers a bit behind

LOS ANGELES — Blake Griffin soared for a time Saturday, lifting the Los Angeles Clippers just high enough to induce altitude sickness, and making the inevitable crash that much more spectacular.

One moment, the Clippers had a 24-point lead. In an instant, it was gone, their flash and bravado overwhelmed by the pure, brutal efficiency of the Spurs. And a playoff series that seemed momentarily salvageable slipped away in a 96-86 defeat, leaving the Clippers with a daunting 3-0 deficit.

“This is what they do best,” Griffin said afterward, sounding equally awe-struck and numb.

No NBA team has ever come back in a series after losing the first three games. The Spurs will go for the sweep today, when these teams return to Staples Center to finish this unusual back-to-back set.

The Spurs are seeking their first trip to the Western Conference finals since 2008, when they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers, and their first trip to the Finals since 2007, when they won their last title. They appear primed for another title run, having surrounded their veteran core with an energetic supporting cast.

Griffin, the Clippers’ high-flying forward, had 28 points, but just eight after halftime. He was brilliant in the first half, making 10 of 13 shots, including some tough turnaround jumpers and a crowd-pleasing dunk over the Spurs’ Tim Duncan. At that point, the Clippers had a 48-28 lead and some measure of self-belief.

But the Spurs closed the first half on a 15-5 run, then ripped the Clippers’ spirit away in the third quarter, when they held them without a point for 8:12. By the end of that stretch, the Spurs had outscored L.A. 39-5 over 12 minutes.

It was vintage Spurs, a combination of relentless defense, diligent ball movement and boundless poise.

“We understood that they were going to make a run early, and we needed to sustain,” said Duncan, who finished with 19 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks. “We’ve been through enough of them to understand that’s how it goes.”

Even Duncan’s younger teammates have learned the Spurs’ way. Danny Green scored five points in the 24-0 run. And rookie Kawhi Leonard looked every bit as calm as his senior teammates.

The Clippers scored just eight points in the third quarter, falling behind by as many as 13. They never got closer than seven points in the fourth.

Paul’s arrival in a controversial December trade turned the Clippers into instant contenders in the West and briefly inspired talk that they were ready to overtake the Lakers for top billing in Los Angeles. But his injuries, along with the Clippers’ youth and inexperience, have proved too great a handicap against the most polished team in the NBA.

In defeat, Griffin marveled at the Spurs’ precision.

“Every game we play really in the playoffs is a good learning experience for us,” he said. “It is good to see how efficiently and how well San Antonio runs their offense. They play the same way whether they’re down 20 or up 20. They always play hard. It’s good to see a team like that from an up-close standpoint.”